The 2026 scholarship recipients honored by the Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky River are (from left) Mia Thomas, Ella Bower, Ruby Fraunfelder, Evan Seiler, Alexandra Adamov, Amelia Diemert, Cecilia Whiteamire; and Rotary Scholarship Chair Jon Fancher.
The Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky River awarded college scholarships to seven area graduating seniors at its weekly lunch meeting on June 1. While applicants can attend any high school but need to reside within the Lakewood or Rocky River city school districts, this year, all recipients happened to be students at Lakewood High School.
The seven scholarship winners were chosen for their character, academic achievement, extracurricular involvement and community service.
Recipients were Alexandra Adamov, Ella Bower, Amelia Diemert, Ruby Fraunfelder, Evan Seiler, Mia Thomas, and Cecilia Whiteamire.
Each graduate will receive a $3,000 scholarship award from the Lakewood-Rocky River Rotary Foundation. This $21,000 scholarship program is part of nearly $80,000 that the club donates to community programs each year.
Alexandra Adamov received this year’s outstanding student for West Shore Career-Technical District outstanding electronics program from the Rotary Club. She captained the girls’ varsity soccer team, won two Physics Boat Regattas, volunteered with the high school’s Help 2 Others program, and was inducted into the National Honor Society. Alex will study music production and recording at Ohio University.
Amelia Diemert’s high school involvement included History Club, National Honor Society and Amnesty International. She was recognized for her work in the Model United Nations and Mock Trial. She chaired the Lakewood Youth Council for one of her four years on the council. Her poetry has been published by Polyphony Lit and recognized by the New York Times. She will study biochemistry and molecular biology at The College of Wooster.
Ruby Fraunfelder captained both the soccer and lacrosse teams, and also played basketball and ran track. She volunteered for Lakewood Congregational Church and the Lakewood Rangers Education Foundation. Her service to her school’s chapter of Blood Cancer United earned her their designation of Student Visionary. Ruby will study biology and pre-medicine at The College of Wooster.
Evan Seiler’s achievements include membership in National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and attainment of the rank of Eagle Scout. He was a three-sport athlete (cross-country, lacrosse, swimming) and was invited to participate in Lakewood’s Watters Science Seminar for top math and science students.
Mia Thomas is an AP Scholar and National Honor Society inductee. She was active in her high school’s Help 2 Others programs serving the needs of senior citizens and children. As a team leader both in her marching band and in her after-school employment, she focuses on making teammates feel respected and included. This fall Mia will enroll in Ohio University’s exploratory major program.
Cecilia Whiteamire is an entertainer at heart. In addition to membership in National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society, she is the two-time president of Lakewood’s Barnstormers Drama Club where she’s received a Thespian Award, a Best Performance Award, and a Best Supporting Actress nomination for the Playhouse Square Dazzle Awards. Outside of school she has studied, coached, and performed at Beck Center’s Youth Theatre Education program, where recently they recognized her many years of service with a Shining Star Award. Ceci will study theater at Slippery Rock University.